GA Airports – Economic Impact

Economic Impact of General Aviation in Canada 2017

Click here to read COPA’s study that highlights the economic impact General Aviation contributes to Canadian communities and to the national economy. The study, compiled by Vancouver-based InterVISTAS, estimates that General Aviation operations in Canada
contributes $9.3 billion in economic output nationally and directly accounts for almost 36,000 full time jobs in communities across the country. The report also highlights the benefits that General Aviation operations bring to communities in terms of tax revenues, direct, and indirect employment.

Other studies have been done in the past, which are still valuable. Airports, even quite small ones, serve a valuable purpose for the communities they serve. They are an economic engine. They employ people, move goods and most importantly, help people connect with one another. A job at the airport has several others off the airport that flow from that job. A person who lands at the airport for a meeting brings business into the community and so on.

COPA has contributed financial support for studies at select airports across Canada to help promote the economic benefit that they bring to their communities. In addition, Aviation Alberta and the Alberta Government have performed a study of a number of airports in that province. We urge you to use these studies, or at least some of the numbers contained in them, whenever you have an opportunity to sell your airport.